Submitted By: Norah Fines, RD
Health Promotion Facilitator, School Health & Wellness Promotion, Alberta Health Services
As the COVID-19 pandemic approaches its third year, Alberta school
communities are looking ahead to a brighter future. Research from across the
province demonstrates that students have experienced increases in a number of
mental health concerns, such as stress, anxiety, low motivation, hopelessness,
aggression, bullying, self-harm and suicidal ideation during the pandemic¹. Schools
will continue to play an essential role in supporting the mental health and
well-being of students. This task may feel daunting for just one individual,
however simple actions can have a big impact on students’ mental health and
well-being. To help educators in Alberta, AHS has a new website, Healthier Together Schools, which offers evidence-based strategies for
improving school wellness in the areas of mental health, physical activity and
nutrition. The Take
Action cards include a wealth of ideas, resources, and background
information to support whole school, universal approaches to health and
wellness.
Here are ten tangible ideas that you can use to
support student mental health and resilience in your school and classroom:
1. Set up peaceful places, including virtual
platforms, for students to take time away, talk through challenges, or calm
down. Welcome everyone
2. Make sure all students have an adult ally -
Set up advisory time, where small groups of students have designated time to
connect with a school staff member who checks in with them daily (if possible)
and acts as their advisor and champion throughout the school experience. Support healthy relationships
3. Work with students to co-develop agreements
about school norms. These are statements generated by students and agreed on by
the school community to describe 'the way things are around here.’ Support healthy relationships
4. Facilitate
youth action projects so students feel listened to, valued, and respected. Help
them identify issues that matter to them, support them to collect perspectives
from peers, and empower them to create meaningful change. Amplify student voice
5. Take mindfulness to the next level, by
encouraging students to reflect on mindfulness practices – they can log or
chart their experiences, journal or talk to an Elder or trusted adult. Try mindful practices
6. Learn
about the evidence-based, high-quality learning opportunities and classroom
ready resources available to you. Start with those from the Alberta
Mental Health Literacy Project, offered
by Alberta Health Services in partnership with school authorities. Build mental health literacy
7. Role model social emotional skills in your
interactions with students. For example, show your class how you handle
frustration, and how you calm down. Develop social emotional skills
Physical
activity, especially in outdoor settings, also plays an important role in
promoting mental health, reducing stress and supporting students’ well-being². To
round out the list of ten ideas, here are three more tips for inspiring students
to be more active throughout the school day:
8. Be intentional about connecting with students
who may not have had positive, inclusive recess experiences (like those new to
Canada or those who have a physical disability). Engage diverse student leaders
as a core strategy for re-activating recess and to get kids moving more
throughout the school day. Reimagine Recess
9. Plan short bouts or bursts of physical
activity for when students’ energy or attention levels drop. If you’re already
a physical activity burst guru, mentor another teacher at your school to
incorporate more movement in their day. Move more, Sit Less
10. Take a small step by moving a daily activity
from your classroom outside. Take a leap to learn from the land and honour
reconciliation. Embrace Nature
Remember, no matter how young or old we are, how tall or small, or where we come from in the world, our mental health is on a continuum. Daily actions in the classroom environment can have a big impact on how a student manages their stress, how they see themselves fitting in the world around them, and how they develop lifelong skills that support positive mental health.
1. Children’s Services. (2021,
December 16). Child and youth
well-being review final report. Alberta Government. Retrieved January
10, 2022, from https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/child-and-youth-well-being-review-final-report/resource/b7f863bf-43af-44ec-8897-b0dafc341665
2. Vaillancourt,
T. et al. (2021, August). Children and Schools During COVID-19 and Beyond:
Engagement and Connection Through Opportunity. Royal Society of Canada.
Retrieved January 10, 2022, from C&S PB_EN_0.pdf (rsc-src.ca)
